Get Tough
 | Get Tough author: W.E. Fairbairn rating:  asin: 0873640020 binding: Paperback list price: $19.95 USD amazon price: $13.57 USD |
The father of modern hand-to-hand combat, Capt. W. E. Fairbairn, taught the famed British Commandos from this classic, long-out-of-print manual on unarmed combat. Known for his "get tough" attitude, Fairbairn designed these practical methods after years of training troops and watching ruffians, thugs, bandits and bullies. Now you can profit from his experience.
About the Author
W.E. Fairbairn taught unarmed combat to the famed British Commandos and the U.S. armed forces during World War II. Before the war he served as assistant commissioner of the Shanghai Police Force. He was co-inventor of the Fairbairn Commando Knife and the author of the classics Get Tough and Shooting to Live.
From the Introduction:
“The methods described in this book I have carefully worked out and developed over a period of many years. They owe something to the famous Japanese judo
(jiu-jutso), and something else to Chinese boxing. But, largely, they were developed from my own experience and observation of how most effectively to deal with the ruffians, thugs, bandits, and bullies of one of the roughest water-front areas in the world.”
“Although every method described in the following pages is practicable - and so proved by the author and his students by years of experience, it is not essential to master them all. I suggest that at first you select about ten which, for reasons of your height, weight, build, etc., seem most suitable, and specialize in mastering these thoroughly.”
“Do not consider yourself an expert until you can carry out every movement instinctively and automatically. Until then, spend at least ten minutes daily in practice with a friend. At first, practice every movement slowly and smoothly. Then gradually increase your speed until every movement can be executed with lightning rapidity.”
~ Captain W. E. Fairbairn
This little book is often called the bible of close quarter combat or gutter fighting. Captain Fairbairn had thiry years experience in the Shanghai Municipal Police where he founded and was in charge of their Riot Squad, the first such squad in the world. He was the first non-Japanese to acquire black belt ranking in Judo from the Kodokan and his methods have been approved and adopted as the standard instructions for the British Army.
This is the quintessential how-to book for quick and deadly self defence. Used to structure your practice on the heavy bag or with a partner, it is without parallel in close quarter combat (cqc) systems.
This list of the chaptes will give you some feel for its close adherance to fighting principles without a lot of preamble.
CONTENTS
Blows
1 Edge-of-the-Hand
2 Chin Jab
3 Boot (Side Kick)
3A Boot Defense
3B Boot ("Bronco Kick") 
4 Knee
Releases
5 From a Wrist Hold (One Hand)
5A. From a Wrist Hold (Two Hands)
6 From a Strangle Hold (One Hand)
6 A From a Strangle Hold (Two Hands)
7 From a Bear Hug (Front, Over the Arms) .
7 A From a Bear Hug (Front, Over the Arms) alterna-tive release
8 From a Bear Hug (Front, Arms Free)
9 From a Bear Hug (Back, Over the Arms)
9A From a Bear Hug (Back, over the Arms) alternative release
10 From a Bear Hug (Back, Arms Free)
11 From a Hair Hold (Back)
Holds
12 Thumb Hold
12 Thumb Hold (cont.)
13 Sentry Hold
13 Sentry Hold (cont.)
14 Japanese Strangle Hold
14A Japanese Strangle Hold Applied from in Front
15 Handcuff Hold
16 Bent-Arm Hold
17 Head Hold
Throws
18 Hip Throw
19 Wrist Throw
20 Back Break
Miscellaneous Advice
21 Chair and Knife
22 The Match-Box Attack
23 Smacking the Ears
24 The Art of Getting Up from the Ground
24A Getting Up from the Ground (Backwards)
25 Attack with a Small Stick or Cane
25 Attack with a Small Stick or Cane (cont.)
25 Attack with a Small Stick or Cane (concl.)
26 Various Methods of Securing a Prisoner
27 Break-Aways from "Come-Along" Grips
27A Your Opponent Has Hold (straight arm arm-bar)
27B Your Opponent Has Hold (half-nelson)
Use of the Knife
28 Use of the Knife
The Smatchet
29 The Smatchet (Carrying, Drawing, and Holding)
29 The Smatchet (Close-in Blows)
29 The Smatchet (Attacking Blows)
Disarming and Opponent of his Pistol
30 Disarming an Opponent of His Pistol
30A Disarming from in Front
30B Disarming from in Front (Alternative Method)
30C Disarming from Behind
30D Disarming from Behind (Alternative Method)
30E Disarming a Third Party
My only caveat applies to the chapter, The Use of the Knife, which contains a death chart puporting to give us the length of time it takes for an untreated person to die from various cuts.
This chart has been proven to be somewhat short in the times of death. Modern studies have apparently proven that you can survive a cut, while you seek first aid, quite a bit longer than expected from this chart.
REF: Contemporary Knife Targeting:
 |
CONTEMPORARY KNIFE TARGETING: Modern Science vs. W.E. Fairbairn’s Timetable of Death author: Christopher and Michael D. Janich Grosz asin: 1581605560 binding: Paperback |
To conclude, I’ll mention Captain Fairbairn’s warnings to all who seek to practice these deadly arts:
“I should like in conclusion to give a word of warning. Almost every one of these methods, applied vigorously and without restraint, will result, if not in the death, then certainly in the maiming of your opponent. Extreme caution, then, should be exercised in practice, care being taken never to give a blow with full force or a grip with maximum pressure. But, once closed with your enemy, give every ounce of effort you can muster, and victory will be yours.”
~ Captain W. E. Fairbairn
